It was first formally described as a new species in 1863 by Ferdinand von Mueller[3] and given the name Parmeliopsis semiviridis, based on a specimen collected by Robert Brown from Table Mountain, Australia.

[4] Its specific epithet, "semiviridis", is from the Latin semi (half or partially) and viridis (green).

[2] X. semiviridis is a rare exception amongst Xanthoparmelia species in that it grows unattached to any substrate.

In dry conditions, it rolls up into a ball that can be up to 30 millimetres (1.2 in) in diameter, and can be blown about in the wind.

When it becomes wet, the ball unrolls and changes to a foliose form with dichotomous branches, and becomes darker in colour.